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Store brings world of film to Asheville
By Anne Fitten Glenn
CITIZEN-TIMES CORRESPONDENT
May 29, 2006 12:15 am
ASHEVILLE — If you have to ask why Leslie Armstrong and Alan Berger named their business Rosebud Video, drop by their Charlotte Street store and rent “Citizen Kane,” a 1941 film rated as the best American film ever made by the American Film Institute.
Armstrong, 49, and Berger, 60, purchased Rosebud Video, formerly Segrof Video, in early 2005, after moving to Asheville from Charleston.
In addition to classic films, Rosebud Video features mainstream and current movies, plus a large collection of foreign, independent, gay and lesbian, and documentary films. With more than 11,000 individual titles in their collection, “we’re the largest and most diverse video store in the area,” Berger said.
Rosebud Video’s shelves hold films from Iraq, Taiwan, Tibet, Croatia and Ecuador, to name a few of the countries represented. The store has sections for film festival winners, the top 100 American films chosen by the American Film Institute and films listed by the names of their directors.
A display of movies made or set in Western North Carolina holds a place of prominence.
“Asheville is celebrated for its diversity, so it should have a diverse video store,” said Chip Kaufmann, president of the Hendersonville Film Society. “Rosebud is a store that stocks much more than just ordinary films.”
Armstrong said the store carries every Academy Award-winning film going back to 1928. “A few of our customers are making their way through all of them.”
Berger said the business focuses on satisfying customers. “People are definitely into film here. We’ve been so surprised by the young people who come in and ask for esoteric independent films.”
Amstrong described Rosebud as “a neighborhood store, even though we have film buffs coming here from all over the area. Our customers like to browse the films, run into neighbors and friends, discuss current events and political ideas — and share favorite movies.”
“We really pride ourselves on being extremely customer-friendly,” Armstrong added. “We’ll do whatever we need to do to make sure our customers have what they need.”
This includes finding documentaries and Spanish-language films for local teachers, and lending movie posters to organizations like MANNA FoodBank for fundraising parties. And it includes talking, often at length, to customers about movies.
Given the proliferation of movie options, from Netflix to Blockbuster to cable TV, “video rental is a tough business in today’s market,” Berger said. “Small, unique video stores are able to survive mostly because a lot of our films aren’t available anywhere else.”
Rosebud stocks both DVDs and VHS tapes, although new releases are now always DVDs, and Berger is upgrading many of the store’s old VHS tapes to the DVD format. You can purchase previously viewed DVDs at Rosebud or hit their bargain bin to buy old VHS films.
photo: Ewart Ball/Staff Photographer
Alan Berger and his wife, Leslie Armstrong, are movie buffs turned video businesspeople, thanks to their purchase of the former Segrof Video store on Charlotte Street. They arranged the purchase through New South Business Ventures. The Charleston, S.C., couple renamed the store Rosebud Video this month.
© 2005 Asheville Citizen-Times
14 O. Henry Ave. , Asheville, NC 28801 • Phone: 828-252-5611.
By Dale Neal
STAFF WRITER
published: March 22, 2005 6:00 am
ASHEVILLE - Alan Berger and Leslie Armstrong have turned their love of movies into a living, thanks to a local business brokerage they found through the Internet.
When the couple looked to move from Charleston, S.C., to Asheville last year, they needed a way to pay the bills. "We were interested in the Asheville area, and we had been looking for a business to buy," Armstrong said.
Like any savvy shoppers, the couple turned to the Internet for information. They landed on the New South Business Ventures' Web site and found the perfect business for sale Segrof Video store on Charlotte Street.
"My husband is very knowledgeable about videos, and the small independent store did pique our interest," Armstrong said.
The couple purchased the Segrof Video Store on Charlotte Street and have changed the name to Rosebud Video, as a tribute to the Orson Welles classic "Citizen Kane."
The change of owners at the Charlotte Street store brings that business full circle.
Catherine Brown originally opened Segrof Video in 1998. Two years later, she saw an opportunity to buy the VideoLife store on Charlotte Street, and she brought in Paula O'Hara of New South Business Ventures to help in the acquisition.
When Brown decided to sell her video store for good, she enlisted O'Hara's help again.
New South Business Ventures has had a change of ownership as well, but it will keep its same name. Paula O'Hara has led the firm since 1996, but, at age 60, she wanted to take on new challenges. Working with Scott Sonnone and Trevor Runberg of Sweetwater Capital, an Asheville-based investment bank, O'Hara saw her opportunity.
Last fall, Sweetwater quietly acquired New South. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but O'Hara said she would continue to play an active role in the company.
"We had done two or three deals together as strategic partners," said Sonnone before they decided to go through with the acquisition of the business brokerage. "New South is the premier business brokerage in Western North Carolina. Our philosophy is that no matter how small a company is, they deserve the same quality of advice and service as a Fortune 500 company."
The companies will continue to operate as two separate firms. New South will focus on the sale of privately held small businesses of $3 million or less. Sweetwater Capital will work with mergers and acquisitions of larger companies as well as raising venture capital.
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